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Description
Papaver somniferum. Hungarian Blue poppies produce elegant purple flowers atop tall, strong stems. From flower bud to seed pod stages, they are highly ornamental, and grow to around 60cm (24") tall. Save the dried seed pods for arrangements, and empty out the edible seeds for use in breads and spreads. The fleeting flowers only last a day or two, but they keep appearing over several weeks, and they look spectacular in mass plantings. Hungarian is highly attractive to bees, but resistant to grazing deer.
| Latin Name |
Papaver nudicaule (perennial), P. rhoeas & P. somniferum (both annual) |
| Difficulty |
Easy |
| Exposure |
Full sun to partial shade |
| Germination |
20-30 days |
| Starting |
Sow on the surface of the soil, or barely cover seeds. Thin to a minimum of 15cm (6″) apart. |
| Growing |
Poppies are easy to grow and the self-sow with abandon, without becoming weedy. Simply pull up unwanted plants (an easy task) before they bloom, or better yet, let them tell you where they want to grow. They will thrive for years at a time in surprising spots, like a crack in the driveway. Other times, they simply won’t take, no matter how much you try. Keep them moderately well watered in hot, dry weather, and do not fertilize. |
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